Whilst at the range yesterday, testing some rifle loads, I chatted to some guys who are in the Defence League (sort of like a volunteer regiment for citizens who are not professional soldiers).

I noticed one gun set down on the table as they practiced seated shots at 100m. It was the buttstock shape that caught my eye first for some reason and sure enough it was what I suspected: an FN Scar from FN USA.

We spoke about it a bit and it seems it was probably one of few than 10 in the country. I can only imagine the hoops the buy had to jump through to get one into the country as a private buyer, as no one sells FN, as far as I know!!

It looked very cool in desert tan and was much smaller than I had expected. Not small, just smaller.

There was also a CZ 858 (VZ58 to you lot) and the guy extolled its virtues saying how accurate it was. He also claimed that it shot out to 500m! I was a little skeptical of that, but who knows. Either way, I looked suitably impressed, nodding my approval!

All in all, the Scar was cool. I'd have loved to have a shot or 10 or even hold it, but I think it was too precious to be handed around to unknown individuals!!

On the plus side, I was given about 45 .308 cases to use for reloading. They may not be Norma, but I can load some lighter practice loads in them, perhaps...

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I'm jealous, and if it makes you feel any better, I still haven't seen one in person here in the states. I'm in CA though, so even if I did see it, there is no way I could afford the ridiculous prices that people here want for them.

I don't think they are worth $3000 either. Scarcity and political panic buying pushed the price up that high. I don't think they are worth anything over $2000.

The day I bought mine, the gun store had one in 7.62 for $2200 as well. At that time the 7.62 SCAR mags were near impossible to find. Higher priced ammo and unavailable proprietary mags for the 17s made the 16s an easy choice.

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Perceived value and cost of Scar 17 is relative to each shooter's need/want. Besides being one of the lightest in weight and in recoiling 7.62 nato semi out there, is the ambi controls like mag release and safety, simple field stripping, piston operated, monolithic rail, folding stock, etc. worth it to you? Only you can answer that if/when you can test fire one.

If you can find one in FDE below $2600-2800, decent price. Thats what I paid for my FDE, last July. There was one local to me in Nov 2012 for $2200 in black, and I didn't buy due to scarcity of mags.

Nib mags can be had for $28-32 in both black and FDE if you are patient and keep looking. (I know they retail for $35-42+ from most dealers).

High-end Direct Impingement 308 ARs like LMT 308 and Larue's are already costing $2800-3k on avg w/ Larue going for much higher than that, depending on model. Piston 308 AR like LWRC REPR is already $3300+ and you cannot fold the stock.

How accurate is Scar 17? Per ARFcom member under username TJ43's post on 8/21/2013:

"I was at a long-range shooting competition early this year. The first shot was 1000 yards, cold bore, at a Larue silhouette target. There were appox. 24 entrants with guns ranging from Accuracy International AWs, to Larue OBRs, to all manner of tricked out 700s and AR-10s. Only one person made the 1000 yard shot--she was shooting a SCAR 17 (she is also a regular in this forum)."

I would need more sources about long range accuracy than just one claim.

Also at 1000 yards, the shooter has more to do with a hit than the rifle. Good ammo and rifle are nothing without a good shooter, but a good shooter can turn out the best a less than ideal rifle or ammo can do.

If the SCAR can hold sub MOA consistently with an off the shelf, then sure... But if not...

If the SCAR can only hold as good accuracy as a $2000 AR pattern, then the extra money may not be worth it to some. If it holds as well as a $3000+ AR pattern, then yes, I see a reason to choose it.

Obviously that is more a percision build, if you were looking for a closer range battle rifle... I don't need the thing to be a tack driver, I shot the Sig 716 very well when their reps brought it for us to play with it. I would save the money and get the Sig for something closer range, or get the GAP-10 for longer range..

As far as the price of the SCAR17, they are expensive but it is justified. There are only a select few rifles who are in the same league with the same design i.e. G36 and ACR.

Where to begin...

The g36 is a full auto weapon, we are referring to a semi auto SCAR variant. The best one could hope for in the US for a G36 is a converted HK SL8. I have held and shot them, the G36 to me is awkward at best.

As far as the ACR.. I almost bought one at one point because I loved the ergo's of it... but all things being fair it is really a over priced mediocre gun at best. It still does not sell very well for Bushmaster so they rarely build them. I was told a very long waiting time when I tried to even order one with my pro-staff form and this was pre-panic mode.

Also the SCAR 17 is a 7.62x51 or .308... the ACR and G36 are 5.56.

I have shot both the SCAR's on the range with the FNH guys, along side the FNAR and all their handguns. They shoot great, but still at the end of the day I find them uncomfortable. For the price they bring in... not saying they are a bad gun... but I think there are better guns to be had.

Don't let my forum name fool you.. I am a proud FiveseveN owner, as well as a former PS90 owner.

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